Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Conclave Begins April 18

The College of Cardinals has set the conclave start date for Monday, April 18. The announcement of the papal election came after the third day of private talks by members of the Cardinalate. Black smoke will come out of the chimney after unsuccessful balloting, but white smoke will rise when a new Pope has been elected. New this year, the bells of the Basilica will toll after a successful ballot because in the past, it has sometimes been difficult to tell whether the smoke was white or black. According to the Guardian Unlimited:

The Vatican spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, also revealed that the cardinals had read John Paul's 15-page spiritual testament, which was written at different stages of his pontificate.

In the testament, Mr Navarro-Valls said, the Pope did not name the mystery cardinal he created in 2003, ending speculation that this cardinal might join the conclave at the last minute.

I just read elsewhere that the cardinals will be allowed to move about the Vatican during the conclave when they are not in session. As I understand it, the rationale for this is that the place of election is now the Vatican, not just the Sistine Chapel or the Apostolic Palace, because JPII in Universi Dominici Gregis provided for the cardinals to be housed in another building, Domus Sanctae Marthae, and transported to and from the Sistine Chapel. However, JPII wrote that "the Conclave ... shall take place within ... Vatican City, **in determined areas and buildings**," which doesn't sound like he necessarily intended the whole Vatican to be considered the place of election. Moreover, JPII stressed that "provision shall be made to ensure that no one approaches the Cardinal electors while they are being transported from the Domus Sanctae Marthae to the Apostolic Vatican Palace," and this seems like a senseless precaution if the cardinals are allowed to roam the Vatican. In fact, none of the provisions made in Universi Dominici Gregis for preventing outside communications with the cardinals inside the Domus Sanctae Marthae during the conclave make as much sense unless the cardinals are intended to be truly sequestered, not just confined to Vatican City, at all times throughout the conclave. Thus, isn't allowing cardinals to roam the Vatican during the conclave contrary to the clear intent of Universi Dominici Gregis, or am I missing something?

I am going to be in Rome between the 22 and 26th of this month, per chance a New Pope is elected by then, will the new Pope preside over any masses? Does he not go around to the different churches in Rome? Thanks much for your help.